"George Patton Jr." 8pp. 8vo., [West Point], Dec. 30, 1906, an excited and rambling letter to his mother about his Christmas with future wife, Bee Ayer in Boston. In part: "Dear Mama; Do not read this aloud. Here I am back from Boston and one of the finest times I ever had people could not have been nicer to me...I did my damndest to keep up my end and seemed to make a fair hit...next day was Christmas and Freddie and I hung up stockings for every body which was lots of fun I got quite childish but did not get to bed until 2: am next morning we got up and sang carols (I did not sing) I got a lot of things in my stocking the most important of which was a bottle of hair tonic which I have used regularly since...I helped Mrs. Ayer fix the table and made a lot of wreaths for her...Well we ate all sorts of things among which were fish turkey venison mince pie apple pie plum pudding...just before the cream came K and I got up & passed around a basket of wreaths I had made and to each man which he decorated the lady next him while K. gave each lady a sprig of holly with which they decorated the men...James Ayer toasted the army well I saw it was up to me and I felt pretty badly but as soon as I got up and held up the glass the blood of the cavaliers came to my help and I replied with a toast to those the defense of whom made the army worth belonging to...they clapped more than for any one else...B gave me a silver picture frame to carry in my pocket with two places for pictures one for you and one for Pa. She said that you and Pa will have to have a picture taken together for reasons which you can probably understand...Gosh but B is a peach I swear she is a lot better than perfect. Now this letter is strictly private I don't want any Bannings Browns or any one else to hear it do you understand for I happen to know that the news of what I or any body else says gets to Boston on the next mail...". George and Bee first met on Catalina Island when they were both young. Within a few years they had resolved to eventually marry. The Ayer family, owners of American Woolen Company, were of a much higher social standing than the Pattons, and many of the Ayer family friends concluded that Bee could have married far better than a young officer just out of West Point. It appears here that George was determined to make a good impression on the family to assuage their fears. Some contemporary smudging, usual folds, otherwise fine condition.